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A solitary haircut by the Metropolitan of Ierissostranslated

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

The Most Reverend Metropolitan of Ierissos, Mount Athos and Ardameri, Mr. Theoklitos, accompanied by his clergy and lay associates, visited the Parish of Agios Dimitrios Geroplatanos on Saturday, July 4, 2026, and officiated at the Vespers Service. Then he performed the solitary haircut of Mr. Athanasios Kostinoudis, a promising young man, 37 years old, a graduate of the "Euclid" Technical School, to whom he gave the name Seraphim.

The service of the haircut was held in the Holy Church of Agios Dimitrios Geroplatanos, as the spiritual father of the new monk is the Panosiology Archimandrite Fr. Kyprianos Strazerou. Fr. Kyprianos has provided an important spiritual and administrative work to the Parish of Hieroplatanos, supporting and resting many of his spiritual children.

Fr. Seraphim is to be ordained a Deacon at the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agios Stefanos Arnaia, on Sunday, July 12, 2026, the feast day of Agios Paisios the Saint, so that he can minister and support his Bishop.

During his speech and admonitions to the new monk, His Holiness developed the essence of the monastic life: the share of man, with all his…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (17) 🌐 Show original

Кирил Митев

Congratulations to the new monk Seraphim. Interestingly, he was cut right in the church of St. Dimitar in Geroplatanu, where his spiritual father Fr. Cyprian has served for so many years. May God strengthen him in the deacon ministry from July 12, the feast of St. Paisius.

Dhimitër Thanasi

Ο Αθανάσιος Κωστινίδης was 37 years old and graduated from the Technical School "Ευκλίδης", καλο παιδι. Χαίρομαι που τον έκειραν Σεραφείμ exactly to Άγιο Δημήτριο Γεροπλατάνου, where ο π. Cyprus supported the world for many years. Εύχομαι να το διναμώσει ο Θεός και στη χειροτονία το 12 July, the day of Saint Paul.

James Adams

Ο Αθανάσιος από την Τεχνική Σχολή «Ευκλείδης» που τον έκαναν Σεραφείμ ακριβώς στον Άγιο Δημήτριο, εκεί που ο π. Κυπριανός τόσα χρόνια στήριζε τον κόσμο. Ωραία επιλογή η ημερομηνία της χειροτονίας του, ανήμερα του Αγίου Παϊσίου. God give him strength.

Ondrej Novák

Nice story. The 37-year-old Athanasios from the Eukleides technical school became a Seraphim monk right in the church of St. Dimitra in Geroplatan, where Father Cyprian confessed and supported him for years. May God give him strength when on July 12, on the feast of St. Paisija is ordained as a deacon.

Helen Baker

Ο Αθανάσιος από την Τεχνική Σχολή «Ευκλείδης» που τον έκαναν Σεραφείμ ακριβώς στον Άγιο Δημήτριο Γεροπλατάνου, εκεί που ο π. Κυπριανός τόσα χρόνια στήριζε τον κόσμο. Ωραία που διάλεξαν την ημέρα του Αγίου Παϊσίου για τη χειροτονία του. God give him strength.

Michael Moore

Glad to see Athanasios from the Euclid Technical School tonsured right there in St. Demetrios Geroplatanos where Fr. Cyprian has been hearing confessions and supporting so many people all these years. Choosing St. Paisios’s feast day for his diaconate ordination on the 12th feels right. May God strengthen Fr. Seraphim.

Методи Костов

Congratulations from me to the new monk Seraphim. It's good that the haircut happened right where his spiritual father worked with people for so long - it's like a circle is closing. I wonder if he will stay to serve in the parish or if he will be sent to a monastery.

John Johnson

Yeah, that timing on St. Paisios' day feels just right for a new monk heading into diaconate. The way Fr. Cyprian has quietly held that parish together all these years makes the whole thing click even more. Praying the Lord gives Seraphim the endurance he’ll need.

Gregory Taylor

Yeah, it's great they did the tonsure right there in the parish where Fr. Cyprian has been the spiritual father for so many. The Euclid Tech connection stood out to me too — nice to see a guy with that background go this way. Praying he serves well as deacon on St. Paisios's day.

Георги Петров

Congratulations from me to Brother Seraphim. It's good that you mentioned the feast of St. Paisius - on that very day he will be ordained a deacon, a nice coincidence. I wonder if Mr. Cyprian will continue to lead it after that.

Румяна Петрова

Yes, and I am glad of the coincidence with the feast of St. Paisius. My father always said that such dates are not accidental. I wonder if you will also go to Athens for the ordination.

George Collins

Yeah, the Euclid Tech background is a nice detail — reminds me how God calls all kinds of guys. Fr. Cyprian’s long work in that parish really shows. Looking forward to his diaconate on St. Paisios’s day.

Васил Стефанов

Yes, a nice coincidence with the feast of St. Paisius. P. Cyprian will surely continue to lead him, has he been his clergyman for years since Gerovo. What do you think, will they soon ordain him as a hieromonk?

Виолета Попова

Roumiana, I also think that the date is not accidental - St. Paisius is a great example of monastic life. I won't be able to go to Athens because my son has exams at school then, but I will pray from here. will you go

Росица Петрова

Yes, I hope so too. Cyprian should continue to lead him - he has known him for years since Gerovo and clearly trusts him. I wonder if after the deacon's ordination he will stay in Athens or return here. Are you going on the 12th?

Иванка Иванова

Yes, the coincidence with the feast of St. Paisius is really nice. P. Kyprian has been leading it for years, since Gerovo, and it can be seen that he firmly supports it. For a hieromonk, I think he will wait a bit - first to serve as a deacon and establish himself, as he usually does. What did you hear about it?

Методи Митев

Yes, I also think that p. Cyprian will continue to lead it - he still knows it well from Gerovo. After the ordination, he will probably return here to be close to the bishop. I won't be able to make it on the 12th, but I'll ask later how it went.